SpotterRF 3D-500 User manual

3D Rotating Radar System
Setup, Configuration, and
Calibration Supplemental Guide
For reference to NIO version 4.0.4
and Spotter version 4.1.0

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
3D Rotating Radar System Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Location .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Physical Setup ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Networking.......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
3D Rotating Radar System Configuration .......................................................................................................................... 5
NetworkedIO (HUB5) ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Radar (3D-500 / 3D-250) .................................................................................................................................................... 6
3D Rotating Radar System Calibration .............................................................................................................................. 7
Scope Referencing .............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Saturation Scan ................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Radar Fencing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
2D Rotating Radar System Limitations .............................................................................................................................. 9
Exporting Restrictions ......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Software Configurations ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

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3D Rotating Radar System Setup
Location
The 3D Rotating Radar System should be setup on an elevated platform or plane in reference to its surroundings. Do not
install the system in locations where there are large object impediments on the same horizontal plane to the radar’s field of
view (e.g. tall buildings, vehicles, tall trees, etc.). Always perform a proper site survey before any final installation in the
case that these large object impediments cannot be avoided.
Physical Setup
The 3D Rotating Radar System will come in a Pelican Air case with all necessary equipment for setup and a Quickstart
guide that is printed for reference. Quickstart guides can also be found on the SpotterRF Partner Portal. Mount the motor
base to the tripod and secure mount with accompanied nut (See image below). Mount radar to the motor’s alignment studs
and secure the mount with the two latches on each side (See image below). Connect the short GTC and GPS cables to the
radar and motor. Mount radar, motor, and base to the ball mount on the top of the tripod using the quick release plate.
Adjust the position of the radar using the ball adjustments. Hang the HUB5 from the carabiner with cable connections
facing down. Connect GTC cables as described on Networking page of Quickstart guide.

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3D Rotating Radar System Setup
Networking
The 3D Rotating Radar System has an accompanied Quickstart guide for use in Networking configuration and setup (See
example image below). Follow steps as shown and ensure all physical networking connections are secured to their
respective devices.

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3D Rotating Radar System Configuration
NetworkedIO (HUB5)
The 3D Rotating Radar System comes with the HUB5 NetworkedIO device. The HUB5 has ability to enable/disable
passive PoE connections within the following ports: PoE RADIO/LAN, PoE RADAR 1/LAN, and PoE RADAR 2/LAN.
These ports are still able to maintain data connection even when PoE is disabled. The ACTIVE PoE CAMERA port also
can be toggled on and off from the NIO’s interface, but data connection is not enabled while power is off on the port. The
PASSTHROUGH 24 – 48 VDC port is activated within the NIO’s interface and is needed to supply power to the rotating
motor on the system. There is also a DC OUT 12 VDC port that can be activated and its use is for future SpotterRF
devices or customized customer needs.
Be aware that new systems will have all port power defaulted to Off. The NIO interface allows the user to deselect this
power option (See any picture below). Toggling the Turn ON / Turn Off interface button will display a green action alert
and this occurrence will be dependent on the “power off on boot” state selected in defining default operation of port
power (See example pictures below). The reason PoE Radar 1 action is lit green is because its expected state is to be
powered off (box is checked) and its current state is turned on. The reason the Voltage Passthrough action is not lit green
is because its expected state is to be powered on (box is unchecked) and its current state is turned on. Selected the “Turn
Off” button in both pictures below would change their current states and action commands to either turn off the green
highlight (e.g. PoE Radar 1) or turn on the green highlight (e.g. Passthrough).

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3D Rotating Radar System Configuration
Radar (3D-500 / 3D-250)
The 3D Rotating Radar’s interface functions the same as other SpotterRF radars, with exception of the following:
1. Motor controls are found on the Advanced tab of the radar interface. This allows the user to perform calibrations
with the “Go to azimuth angle” button and to perform a Saturation Scan. The Saturation Scan will slow down the
rotation rate of the motor for the user to view the Radar Doppler Matrix (RDM) found in the Tracker tab. Viewing
the RDM during this mode allows the user to determine what angle is producing saturation/noise on the system, if
present.
2. The Environment Presets have the option to select Rotating Air. This preset was made specifically for the rotating
radar system in refining the sensitivity settings of drone detections.
3. Do not attempt to record target tracks with the rotating radar using the Manage Data Sources link. The Manage
Data Sources link within the Advanced tab in the System section allows users to upload and play recorded tracks
for filter applications on specific sites. This interface allows the user to record current tracks within the radar’s
field of view. However, this recording feature is not functional within the rotating radar system due to processor
limitations.

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3D Rotating Radar System Calibration
Scope Referencing
The 3D Rotating Radar System will have a calibration scope within its case that is used in calibrating the radar within the
NIO map interface. Access the radar’s interface, navigate to the Advanced tab, and scroll down to Motor settings. Select
“Go to azimuth angle” and the radar head will stop spinning and rotate to the azimuth angle of the motor. Attach the
calibration scope to the radar as shown below. Scope should be centered over the radar face plate and screw. Do not
attempt to physically rotate the motor head. Use the Azimuth input field within Motor settings to adjust the radar’s
orientation to align the scope’s reticle at a reference point in the 360° field of view. Once the reticle is aligned, navigate to
the NIO interface and select the radar within the Devices icon. Select Geolocation, select Calibrate, click on the reference
point found on the map image in the NIO interface, then select Save. The Bearing line will have adjusted to that reference
point. Remove scope from radar. Navigate back to the Motor settings and select “Normal Operation Mode”.
Saturation Scan
Once calibrated, ensure there is minimal to no saturation within the radar’s 360° field of view. Select the “Saturation Scan
Mode” within the Motor settings and the rate of rotation will noticeably slow down. Navigate to the Tracker tab and select
“Show RDM”. This allows you to see how much saturation is present at the angle the radar is facing during its rotation.
Repositioning radar or radar fencing (SP-RDR-FENCE) may be needed to reduce saturation that is affecting performance
of drone detections.
RDM with Saturation RMD without Saturation

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3D Rotating Radar System Calibration
Radar Fencing
The Radar Fencing Kit (SP-RDR-FENCE) is available for purchase separately from the 3D Rotating Radar System. When
the installation location and setup must be in an area with high levels of saturation or nuisance alarms, radar fencing can
be used to reduce the amount of saturation the radar is experiencing.

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2D Rotating Radar System Limitations
Exporting Restrictions
The United States government has in place current exporting restrictions on all 3D Rotating Radar Systems. This
restriction is due to the system’s ability to determine an aerial target’s altitude in the sky. In compliance with this
restriction, SpotterRF has provided international partners the 2D Rotating Radar System. With proper authorization from
the US government, an international partner can be granted a waiver that allows the 2D radar system to be upgraded into a
functioning 3D radar system. In order to upgrade from a 2D system to a 3D system, navigate to the radar’s interface, drag
and drop the upgrade package (provided by SpotterRF) to the “Drop or Click to Upgrade” link at the bottom of the page.
Radar with then be upgraded to 3D system capabilities.
Software Configurations
The current limitation of the 2D Rotating Radar System is the inability to measure the altitude of aerial
targets. With this limitation comes the inability to filter out ground noise and in some instances to cue a camera on target
with enhanced zoom settings. To minimize the ground noise and prevent false alarms, there is a programmed software
system tracking limiter. This means that at heights up to 25 meters from the horizontal installation plane of the radar, no
targets will be displayed onto the NetworkedIO interface to trigger alarms within zones. All targets found by the radar
above the 25 meter height will be displayed onto the NIO interface. See image below for example. All altitude readings
from aerial targets detected by the radar above 25 meters will be displayed as being 90 meters in order to allow most
camera calibrations to cue to an ambiguous aerial target location until camera presets with zoom settings can be managed
by the user during testing.